Energy

Paris Climate Agreement Signed, but Troubles Loom in the U.S.

On Earth Day, NPR looked at the intersection of the Paris Climate Agreement, which Secretary of State John Kerry signed at the U.N. on Friday, and President Obama's Clean Power Plan which has been given a pause by the Supreme Court.

April 23, 2016 - NPR

One Million Solar Panels and Counting

The United States reached a milestone in solar panel installation earlier this year, after 40 years of the industry attempting to gain a foothold. Now the industry is preparing for "warp speed."

April 22, 2016 - greentechmedia

Port of Tacoma

Plans for World's Largest Methanol Plant Die in Tacoma

The massive and controversial Tideflats methanol plant proposal will no longer trouble environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest.

April 21, 2016 - The News Tribune

Oil Drills

All Jokes Aside: Do Oil Companies Avoid Wealthy Areas?

Environmental justice alarms sounded when an oil industry executive made public remarks about how drilling sites get selected.

April 19, 2016 - Pittsburg Post-Gazette

HUD's Resilience Revolution

The United States Housing and Urban Development agency is utilizing new ways to empower communities to become resilient ones. The agency's National Disaster Resilience Competition is one way they are helping cities around the U.S. achieve just that.

April 19, 2016 - Doggerel

Methane Emissions Replace CO2 Emissions— Is This Progress?

For the first time, electricity generated from burning natural gas will surpass coal, largely due to fracking of shale. While that means that carbon dioxide emissions will continue to drop, it also means that methane emissions will increase.

April 17, 2016 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

Using Highway Medians for Carbon Sequestration

Americans are thinking about undeveloped land alongside and between roadways as a low cost and widely dispersed strategy for carbon sequestration

April 15, 2016 - EarthTalk

While Commodities Sink, Solar Power Rises on Farmland

Some of the nation's new clean energy capacity is being built on land that formerly grew crops. The sun, quite literally, is worth more than peanuts.

April 14, 2016 - Bloomberg

Coming to Grips With Post-Coal Reality in Wyoming

The state of Wyoming made billions in tax revenues off the coal industry. But after waves of layoffs, those left in the state are asking: What's left of those revenues for workers?

April 11, 2016 - WyoFile

Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline

Plans for Massive Oil Pipeline to Philadelphia Taking Shape

Oil industry representatives have coalesced behind a plan to connect Philadelphia with the Marcellus Shale region with a large new pipeline. A recently completed conceptual plan for the pipeline is intended to build political support.

April 10, 2016 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Klamath River Dam Removal Moves Ahead Without Congressional Approval

A lack of Congressional approval almost killed a controversial dam removal project on the Klamath River in Oregon and California. The states and the Interior Department have found a way to proceed.

April 7, 2016 - Associated Press via The Register-Guard

Coal Industry: Down but Not Out

It's easy to focus on the shrinking market share and layoffs in the coal industry and see the demise of the industry, but construction of new coal burning power plants is still booming in countries like China and India.

April 5, 2016 - Vox

Benchmarks: Places on the Move Measure Up

All Planetizen readers should read the full 200-page Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2016 Benchmarking Report. If you haven't taken the time yet, Hazel Borys shares some of the best bits.

March 29, 2016 - PlaceShakers

U.S. Gasoline Consumption Up, Oil Production Down

Gas prices are on the rise, though they will remain well below 2014 levels through this year. U.S. oil production dropped by 600,000 barrels from last year, while gas consumption is on track to break the 2007 record thanks to cheap gas and more SUVs.

March 28, 2016 - The New York Times

Canada Ready to Renegotiate Critical Columbia River Treaty

The U.S. and Canada have come to an agreement that it's time to renegotiate a treaty that governs the management of dams and water along the Columbia River—one of the largest rivers on the continent.

March 27, 2016 - The Tyee

China High Speed Rail

U.S. Won Space Race but Lost High Speed Rail Race

The U.S. ranked 19 out of 20 for countries with high speed rail service according to a new survey by GoEuro.

March 27, 2016 - Grist

Wind Powered New Energy Construction in 2015

The overhaul of the U.S. energy grid is already well underway.

March 25, 2016 - Fusion

Voltage Transformer

Alternative Infrastructure: Electrified Roads

The concept is no different from trains travelling along a charged track. While any real-world implementation is a long way off, the TEV team is building a trial road for a lower estimated cost per mile than traditional highway.

March 21, 2016 - Bloomberg Business

Mapping the World's Nuclear Plants

Although the prominence of nuclear power diminishes with each disaster, a map of the world's nuclear power portfolio has offers plenty of information for analysis.

March 17, 2016 - CarbonBrief

Coal Mining and Power Station

Hillary Clinton's Surprisingly Blunt Message to Coal Workers

The message was so atypical for a politician wooing votes. "We'll put coal miners out of business," Hillary Clinton warned the audience at Sunday night's Democratic Town Hall in Columbus, Ohio, giving credence to President Obama's "War on Coal."

March 15, 2016 - Courier-Journal

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.